The purpose of this course is to understand the role language plays in our day to day lives, how it shapes our world views and social relations, ultimately influencing our human experiences. The relationship between language and society is discussed through different theoretical means, including but not limited to: anthropology, culture studies, philosophy of mind, and social theory. We will draw upon structural aspects of speech (such as phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and discourse) and observe these in relation to language in its social context.
I will lecture about ¼ of class time overall. The other ¾ of our time will be consumed by class discussions and presentations (details in found under “Assessment Descriptions”). Grading is based on preparation and participation in class discussions.
- Professor: Katherine R Morales Lugo